Reusable envelope



April 30, 1968 R. 'r. DE LYRA REUSABLE ENVELOPE Filed March 24, 1967Sec-and Tab F/mf Tab Rose II deLyrQ INVENTOR.

BY @hnw and United States Patent 3,384L648 REUSABLE ENVELGPE Rose T. DeLyra, 9280 Harding Ave, Surfside, Fla. 33154 Filed Mar. 24, 1967, Ser.No. 625,709 Claims. (Cl. 229-71) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisdisclosure has to do with a reusable two-way envelope having a pluralityof windows and a companion insert; namely, a card wholly filling thereceptacle portion. This card is reversible and also reusable andprovided on opposite sides with selectively viewable indicia identifyingthe respective senders and recipients. Novelty is predicated, primarilyat least, on the unique construction of the envelope, more particularly,specially constructed and usable closing flaps for (1) original mailingand (2) reusable return-to-sender mailing.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a reusable two-wayenvelope whose front wall or panel is provided with several sightopenings or windows through which predetermined written or printedindicia on an insertable card can be displayed and seen, said card beingnot only reusable but reversible for systematic original mailing andreturn mailing steps, and said envelope being novel in that it isprovided with unique progressively usable primary and secondary closingflaps.

Prior art The state of the art, insofar as it pertains to the field ofinvention above set forth, is revealed in the mailing envelope coveredin Patent 2,794,590 issued to Sills, Jr. This patent is worthy ofconsideration in that it shows a reusable envelope whose front wall orpanel is pro vided with several individual windows, One in its medianportion and two others in upper left hand and right hand portions,respectively, and which serve to effectually display reversibleindicia-bearing cards. Unlike Sills, Jr., which requires the use ofseparate pockets for separate cards, the present solution of the two-waymailing problem has to do with a single multipurpose pocket-filling cardor insert which is not only reversible but has selectively usab eindicia-bearing areas or places for alignment with the several windowsfor two-way sending and return purposes.

Another and more specific objective has to do with the use of thenon-printed marginal areal portions of the insert or card on whichgumrned labels are availably stored and wherein said labels can be (1)plain for the mounting of a stamp thereon, or (2) provided withrequisite postage stamps already in place thereon. To the ends desired,the corner area where the usual postage stamp is customarily attachedneed not be cut out to provide a sight opening but can be imperforateand provided, if desired, with printed guide lines for attachment of thefirst-used detachable pro-postage label or a subsequently usable postagestamp-equipped covering label. It follows that this label (plain forreception of a stamp or a stamp applied thereto) would be mailed and bythe time the duly mailed envelope reaches its destination the postagestamp would have been cancelled, whereupon the recipient would lift offthe old label and discard it, thus preparing the then blank area forusage of the next succeeding pre-postage label.

Another objective is to provide the envelope with pairs (more than twopairs if feasible) of companion closing flaps and flap-like holddowntabs with adhesively connec- 338,548 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 tiblesurface portions orderly oriented for coacting use. To this end Iprovide at least two pairs of flaps and two pairs of tabs to achieve thetwo-way or dual purpose result and contemplate augmenting this aspect ofthe concept so that one envelope and insertable address card can beeconomically employed over and over.

Summary Briefly, the invention comprehends the adoption and use of astructurally distinct envelope and a companion or complementalindicia-bearing insert or card characterized by the above-named featuresand coordinating in attaining the above stated end results. Morespecifically,

a single reversible indica-bearing card wherein the indiciais aptlyregistrable with the front wall windows and wherein said card alsoserves as a carrier or base for storing stamps or labels (plain, prepaidor stamped) is novel. Then, too, novelty is thought to reside in theenvelope having a first closing flap and companion holddown tab(suitably gummed) which can be torn off by the initial recipient in amanner to systematically uncover and bring into play a second closingflap and its holddown tab (also suitably gu-nimed) which the recipientthen uses to seal the envelope preparatory to returning it and its cardinsert to the original sender.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of areusable envelope showing the front side thereof with the plural windowsand with the insertable and removable as well as reversible address cardenclosed in a manner to show the name and address of the sender and nameand address of the recipient and, in the upper right hand corner, anoptional window with a stamp or suitable postage appearing therethrough.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the aforementioned insertable andremovable and reversible address card and showing how predeterminedsurface portions thereof may be provided with gummed but detachablelabels (with or without postage) and wherein such labels areconveniently stored for readily available usage.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective with the card omitted, with the portionat the left broken away, and which shows the first and second tabs inreadiness for use on the back wall and the first and second closingflaps (also primary and secondary flaps) before folding and attachingthe same.

And FIG. 4 is a view in secion taken centrally through the envelope withthe card therein and wiih the first or primary flap attached to itscompanion or complemental first tab.

Description of the preferred embodiment As is evident from the views ofthe drawing the concept has to do with a structurally and functionallyimproved envelope which is denoted generally by the numeral 6 and thecombination therewith of a madeto-fit insertable and removablemultipurpose insert or card 8.

The envelope comprises a front wall it) and a multipart back wall 12(FIG. 3), said walls being marginally joined around three marginal edgesas usual and as denoted at 14 to define a receptacle portion with anopenable and closable mouth denoted at 16 in FIG. 3. The front wall(FIG. 1) is provided with a plurality of sight openings or windows byway of which the contents of the receptacle portion can be seen andconveniently read. There can be several such openings or just two, oneat the center and one at the left. However, and for convenience ofillustration, there is a sight opening or window 18 in the upper lefthand corner to show the name and address of the sender. At the median orcentral portion there is a second sight opening or window 20 to show thename of the recipient. While the upper right hand corner can beimperforate with guide lines printed to show the place for a stamp, itis here shown (FIG. 1) with an opening constituting a third window 22.Referring now to FIG. 3, it wiil be noted that a relatively large orwide initially usable flap is denoted at 24 designated as a first flap.It is of one piece and occupies the closed posi tion shown in FIG. 4when in use. The upper lip or free edge portion is gummed or providedwith pressuresensitive adhesive media 26. The means for closing andretaining the flap 24 in its closed position is denoted generally by thenumeral 28 in FIG. 3 and comprises a strip of suitable sheet materialwhich is commensurate in length with the length of the fiap and also thelower marginal edge 30 of the envelope. This strip is folded upon itselfbetween its lengthwise edges to provide an attaching portion 32 which ispermanently secured in place and to provide a foldable holddown tab 34which is complemental to the first flap and is convenientlydifferentiated as a first tab. Actually this tab could be designated asa holddown flap but for descriptive purposes is designated as a tab andit is attached to the component portion 32 by a severable tear line 36and the surface is optionally provided with adhesive media 3:8. It iswithin the purview of the invention to provide the adhesive on eitherthe flap or the tab or both. The flap 24 is also joined to the mouthedge portion of the envelope by a severable or tcarable score line 40.The first flap and first tab are used for the initial mailing from thesender to the recipient as suggested in FIG. 1 and also shown in detailin FIG. 4. For the return usage the envelope also embodies a second fiap42. The second flap has a flange along one lengthwise edge as at 44which is glued or adhesively attached to the interior surface of thefront wall in the manner shown in FIG. 3. This flap has a fold line 46.Also this flap 42 is much narrower than the main or first flap 24. Theattachable lip or edge portion is denoted at 48 and haspressure-sensitive adhesive media thereon which is intended to beconnected with the second holddown tab 5t). This tab 59 comprises asimilar narrow strip of sheet material denoted at 52 and which has anattaching portion 54 and the aforementioned tab portion 50 which may be,if desired, provided with adhesive for coaction with the adhesive 48 onthe second flap 42. It follows that the first fiap 2d cooperates withthe first tab 28 during the initial mailing as shown in FIG. 4. Then thefirst fiap 24 is torn off by way of the tear line 4%) as is also thefirst tab 38 by way of its tear or score line 36.

During the time that the first flap 24 is closed with the assistance ofthe holddown first tab 34 the envelope with the card 8 therein appearsin cross-section in the manner shown in FIG. 4. Once the first flap andfirst tab have been detached to facilitate removal of the card 3 forreversing purposes it will be evident that the second flap 42 and secondtab 50 are then readied for use when the recipient returns the envelopeand card (plus a letter or check) to the original sender. It is furtherevident that with the first flap and first tab detached the normallyfolded and intact strip means 52 is Opened up in order to render thesecond tab accessible for the attachment thereto of the adhesive coatedlip 48 of the second flap 42.

4 portion the address of the recipient which is conveniently designatedat 6%. These addresses (not detailed) are re versed on the opposite orunderneath side 62 of the card (not detailed). As stated, it is withinthe purview of the invention, assuming that the card 3 is in theenvelope as shown in FIG. 1 to attach an ordinary stamp which actuallywould be applied to the plain label 64 and could be removed by therecipient inasmuch as the label 64 is detachable before the card 8 isreinserted and reversed for return mailing purposes. Other orsupplemental labels are provided and are conveniently designated at 66.These labels are provided with pressure-sensitive adhesive media 68 andcan be peeled off. in connection with the idea of labels it will beevident that each label could be provided on its viewable surface with aregular stamp, or the postage could be of the prepaid or printedcharacter such as is used in machine labels in offices and elsewhere. Onthe other hand, the labels can be perfectly plain so that a plain labelcan be applied to cover a cancelled stamp after which a fresh stamp orprepostage stamp could be utilized.

It is submitted that the combination envelope and insertable reversiblecard (which can be of light paper stock if desired) will achieve asubstantial saving in time, in paper, in printing and typing and thepostmark on the back of the letter itself will serve as a permanentofficial certification as to the date the letter was mailed. Theconstruction is such that the idea of flaps and holddown tabs can bemultiplied and the envelope and insert can be used over and over. Forpurpose of the instant application the two-way adaptation is believed tobe ample for an understanding of the construction and purposes of theinvention.

It is an aspect of the concept to have several detachable type labels alittle larger than two U.S. postage stamps above and/or below the mainaddress on the address insert so that it can be used by re-attachingthese labels as needed on address insert itself in the area wherepostage stamps are normally placed. Of course these labels" are attachedto the address insert before the postage stamps are glued to it.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

Whats is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A two-way reusable return-type envelope of the class describedcomprising: a front wall having at least two sight openings definingwindows through which the contents of the envelopes receptacle portioncan be seen by an observer, one window being in the upper left handcorner for display of the name and address of the sender and the otherwindow being centered for display of the name and address of therecipient, a complemental back wall opposed to and marginally joinedwith coact'ing marginal portions of said front wall in a manner toprovide a normally open mouth leading to said receptacle portion, asingle self-contained first closing flap having a marginal edge joinedby a severable score line to a complemental lengthwise edge of saidfront wall and capable of being folded, as usual, over and closing saidmouth for mailing the envelope from a first sender to a first recipient,said back having companion holddown means for the first flap comprisingan elongated relatively narrow strip of sheet material having alengthwise attaching portion superimposed upon an exterior surface ofthe back wall proximal to and commensurate in length with a lowermarginal edge of said envelope, said strip also having a foldableportion free of direct connection with said back wall and constituting'a first flap attaching and hol-ddown tab, said holddown tab beingjoined along one longitudinal edge to said attaching portion by amanually severable score line the cooperating and overlapping surfaceportions of said first flap and tab being joined by cooperablefiap-closing and retaining pressure-sensitive adhesive media in a mannerto permit the envelope to be opened by the recipient after which saidfirst fiap and also said first tab can be bodily torn off and discardedto prepare the envelope for further use.

2. The envelope defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein saidfront wall is also provided with a second mouth closing flap of an arealsize appreciably less than the areal size of said first fiap and whichis initially intact but is readied for use after said first flap hasserved its initial mailing purpose and has been detached and discarded,said second fiap having a gummed lip for use when the envelope is usedfor return mailing by the recipient at which said first flap beingrelatively large and amply large when closed to completely overlie andkeep said second flap intact for subsequent mouth closing use, and, incombination, a second holddown tab isolated from said first tab, mountedon the exterior surface of said back Wall and adapted to underlie anoverlapping free lip portion of said second flap when the latter isintentionally folded over said mouth and 'operatively associated withsaid holddown tab, the overlapping edge portions of the second flap andsecond tab having surfaces which are connectible by pressure-sensitiveadhesive media.

3. The envelope defined in and according to claim 2 and wherein saidsecond flap is not only smaller in spreadable area than the overlyingfirst flap but does not normally overlie said second tab, said first tabbeing located adjacent and parallel with the bottom lengthwise edge ofsaid envelope and said second t-ab being located and confined when notin use to an area of said back wall between and out of the way of saidfirst tab and econd flap and also underlying the first fiap in a mannerthat no part of the adhesive media of the first flap can come intocontact therewith at the time the first flap is closed and adhesivelyjoined to said first tab, whereby said second flap and second tab do notinterfere with the closing function of said first flap and also wherebysaid second flap and companion second tab are kept intact but ready forsubsequent use during the initial usage of said first flap and firsttab.

4. The envelope defined in and according to claim 1 and, in combination,single insertable and removable indicia-bearing card conformably fittedin the receptacle portion of said envelope, said card being reversibleand reusable and the indicia being on the opposite selectively usablesurfaces of the card and so positioned and allocated that it isalignable with predetermined windows in said front wall, predeterminedsurface portions of said card being provided with peelable gummed labelsfor use in the upper right hand corner of said envelope and said labelsbeing of a prescribed permissibly usable size and the non-gummedexterior surface of said labels being plain, imprinted with (1)machine-printed paidfor postage or (2) carrying a ready-to-use postagestamp.

5. The envelope defined in and according to claim 1, and in combination,a single manually insertable and removable card of a predetermined sizethat it can be conformably fitted in the receptacle portion of saidenvelope, said card being reversible and reusable and having prescribedselectively usable indica which is so positioned on the reversiblesurfaces that it is readily alignable with predetermined Windows in saidfront wall, at least one surface of said card being provided withdetachable labels of a size and shape that they can be usably alignedwith a third sight opening provided for label exposing use in the upperright hand corner of said front Wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,824 5/ 1929 Staples 229-712,384,223 9/1945 Wilbur 229-80 2,794,590 6/1957 Sills 229-71 FOREIGNPATENTS 118,376 8/1918 Great Britain.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

